Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-03
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
A Number Of HamdsOme Residence
Now being Erected In this City.

THE HISTORIC RESIDENCES ON LAFAYETTE sou ARE
MR. BLAINEs RESIDENCE LEASED FOR ANOTHER
TERN OF FIVE YEARS.
The deed placed on record during the week trans
ferPing TO the new owner the estate known as Kali
Drama completes the transaction which was prac-
tically agreed upon year ago. The property, COM
prising about SO acres lies on the western bound
airy OF the city at the head OF Massachusetts, ave-
nue. extended The new owners propose to begin
&C once the work OF subdividng the property open
Ing the streets and making the necessary grades.
They will then place the subd vision on the market
The subdivision determined upon conforms
with the plan OF the city. Massachusetts, avenue
has already been extended through this property
oy the District government 1t the full width OF
100 feet The intersecting streets will be made OF
the same width a. those in the city The avenue
Is detected slightly TO the north at point about in
masked by circle which Is 400 feet ii diameter.
IL is estimated that the space required for the
hall Of the entire acreage. The new s1sdivision
VIII connect with the subdivision OF Belair Heights
IN the west When the subdivision is completed
AL Inc ground lying between Boundary street and
Rock Creek, along Massachusetts, avenue extended
win be laid out into city lots The old house which
down 10 allow the improvements 10 be made The
new owners, J. C. Bullet, Anthony j. Drexell and
senator Cameron are men OF wealth The two for.
In Philadelphia Mr.. Bullet Is interested In other
property In this city, but this purchase is the nrst
III.
De regarded as an indication Of the favorable
opinion OF property in this city entertained by
man OF his large financial experience. Senator
cameron Is already large owner OF property In
and about the city.
00nB FAMOUS HOUSES.
Representative Scott, OF Pennsylvania, who re-
Gently purchased the residence known as the
Marcy House, on the west side OF Lafayette Square,
near near street Is making a number q improve:
menus In tne INFERIOR. The house Will be he ted
with steam instead Of by furnace heat, and the
the changes have been made the appointments Of
the house viii be complete and handsome.
Although It was built In 1867 the house
has more substantial appearance than
by tbs late william l. Marcy, OF New York,
the Cabinet minister, member If Congress and
politician OF former years The locality has con-
character. Many people prominent In the political
and social life OF the capital have resided there
Adjoining the residence OF Mr. Scott, on the north,
designs by Latrobe for Commodore Decatur,
and it was from here that he started one
burg in the duel which terminated so
fatally for him. The house was afterward
occupied BY Sir Charles Vaughan, the British min
OF State, and also for some years by the Govern
ment Tor bureau on1ces. 1t is now owned and &C.
e S oy Gen z T; Beale. IL is said that every
President from Madison TO Grant rs been enter
OF Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, who has greatly added TO
since it came into his possession with the excep-
ton OF house and lot adjoining, this property
occupied the entire square until within few years
ago, when Mr.. CorcOran sold the 18th street 'front.'
where the residence Of Messrs. John Hay, Henry
Adams and Lucfus Tuckermann now stand. Be
fore the house became the property Of Mr..
ster. and during the Mexican war the British
minister, Mr.. Packenham, resided there and in
home on the opposite side or the square and at
the southeast corner OF II and 15h street Is The
building now occupied BY the Cosmos Club 1t is
part OF the present century by Mr.. Cults, who was
connected by marriage with the family OF Presi-
residence Of Mrs Madison, the widow Of President
Madison. Here that popular and fascinating
woman held court, and her levees and re-
land After the death Of Mrs. Madison the house
Was purchased and occupied by Commodore
Wilkes who captured Mason and Sl.dell, and was
In his time and for some years afterward it stood
surrounded BY quite extensive grounds. In later
years, however. portions Of the old garden on H
lots, on which are now located handsome housed
For some years e was occupied by different pe0-
house. But the house and the street on which il
fronts have been identified with the name Of MIRA
Madison, although the name Madison Place,
by which 154 street was formerly known,
south of the Coemus Club House is the large
by Mr.. Benjamin Ogle TaylOe, descendant OF the
Mr. Tayloe who built In the latter part OF the last
century the Cctagon House, at the corner OF New
Is now owned and occupied by senator Cameron.
The large square three-story house adjoining, now
used BY the COmmissary Generals ONCE, was
wen-known some years ago as the Club House. 1t
was built for his own use by Commodore Rogers
and after his death it became fashionable board,
ing house and then a club house. To one OF its
rooms Barton Key was borne after being shot by
S,ckles in the street nearly in front OF the mousse
on the opposite side OF Lafayette square was the
house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Sickles, and It is
said that at the time the trees in the SQUARE were
so small that tho waving OF q handkerchief from
one OF the windows could De distinctly seen at the
CLUB House opposite. This was the signal, IL was
said. between Mrs. Sickles and Mr.. Key. 1t was
In the old Club House that secretary Seward re-
sided and 1t was here that the attempt was made
TO assaSslnate him the night President Lincoln
was shot.
GEORGE Z. LEMONS HOUSE
Mr.. George E. Lemon Is building a handsome
residence on the south side OF Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. between 14th and 18th streets The lot is OF
q rather peculiar shape At some distance from
the building line II makes a sha o angle. and then
continues straight back to NJ street In the rear
The house VIII occupy nearly the entire lot and
Page architect. The frontage OF "a feet allows an
interior arrangement OF the mousse in many res ects
similar to that OF double house. There Is a wide
entrance hall, and on one side library and on the
Other reception-roOm. From the entrance hall
access Is had to the staircase hail. which will be
pretty feature OF the house and win contain large
aIcove fireplace or ingle nook. The dining-rOoin
is on that portion OF the lot which turns at sharp
angle from the front line and continues to II
street. IL Is large room, with one side oval in
shape and well lighted by broad windows The
turn In the lot also allows q large window In the
parior, W nch Is the back room OF the main build
ing The rooms OF the nrst iloOr form a cOnlin-
uous suite and are 10 be very richly
finished In hard woods In the parlor
poilsned holly Will be used, In the reception
room sycamore, while In the library the san
Domingo mahogany will display its rich tones
The wovd work OF the hall will be Quartered OAK.
while that OF the dining-room Will be CHARTERED
RED OAK The front OF the house will be con-
structed OF stone and brick. From the founda-
lions 10 the sill OF the second story the walls Will
De 0u1lt of the rock-faced brown stone enriched
with carving Above the entrance will be an Ortoie
window OF crick and stone, and over this will be
loggfa- The Day window on the other side OF the
entrance Will extend through Two stories and will
De surnounted Dy stone baluslrade. The en-.
trance Is by broad platform staircase OF stone
and from tine street 10 the front steps the entrance
walk Will have an ornamental stone balustrade on
both sides.
TWO NEW REsrDRNCEA
house Is being erected on the south side of
Massac husetts avenue, between l4th and 18th
streets, for Lieut.. Dunlop, U. s. n. The designs.
prepared BY Harvey l. Page, architect provide for
front OF stone and brick, which will be yery
handsome The stone used will be the Potomac
red sandstone, and up TO the sill OF the rst story
this stone will be rock-faced. Then courses
Will form the nrst story. and the
remainder OF the front will DO brick with stone
courses An octagon bay window win extend to